PSYCH406: Gender and Sexuality

Unit 4: Sociobiological and Psychoanalytic ApproachesWe will now take a look at sociobiological and psychoanalytic
approaches to gender. While these approaches are independently useful
for explaining certain aspects of gender and sex, no single approach can
explain everything or serve as an all-encompassing guide to gender and
sexuality. Certain theories may have more research, while others have
less. In many cases, approaches change as new research emerges and new
conclusions are formed.

Unit 4 Time Advisory
This unit should take you approximately 12 hours to complete.

☐ Subunit 4.1: 2 hours

☐ Subunit 4.2: 2 hours

☐ Subunit 4.3: 2 hours

☐ Subunit 4.4: 4 hours

☐ Subunit 4.5: 2 hours

Unit4 Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this section, students will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of the sociobiological and
psychoanalytic approaches to sexuality and gender identity.

Demonstrate an understanding of theories of sociobiology as it
relates to gender and sexuality.

Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of early childhood in
sexual identity.

Demonstrate an understanding of Freud’s psychological approaches to
gender and sexuality.

Demonstrate an understanding of other psychological approaches to
gender and sexuality.

Instructions: View this lecture, which discusses evolutionary
theories concerning, as well as current studies relating to, sex and
gender differences. Information relating to mate selection and
sexual orientation is also presented. Note that this viewing will
cover the material you need to know for all subunits in sections 4.1
and 4.2 (4.1.1 through 4.2.7).
This lecture is approximately 53 minutes long.
Terms of Use: Paul Bloom, Introduction to Psychology (Yale
University: Open Yale
Courses), [http://oyc.yale.edu](http://oyc.yale.edu/ "http://oyc.yale.edu") (Accessed
November 16, 2010). License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0. The
original version can be found
[here](http://oyc.yale.edu/psychology/psyc-110/lecture-14).

4.2.1 Gender Differences Arise from Optimal Mating Strategy4.2.2 Males: Able to Produce Large Number of Offspring, Low Parental
Investment4.2.3 Females: Produce Fewer Offspring, High Parental Investment4.2.4 Mate Selection as Evolutionary Process4.2.5 Male: Choose Mate with High Reproductive Capacity4.2.6 Female: Look for Resources, Protection4.2.7 Nurturing: Females More Involved in Caring for Young4.3 Basic Psychoanalytic Theory
- Reading: Media Education and Resource for Learning and Online
Teaching: Cathy Swift’s "On the Origin and Development of
Psychoanalysis"
Link: Media Education and Resource for Learning and Online Teaching:
Cathy Swift’s "On the Origin and Development of
Psychoanalysis"

Instructions: Click on the above link. Click on the “Location: Go
to Material” tab. Read all material on this handout. Note that this
reading will cover the material you need to know for all subunits in
section 4.3 (4.3.1 through 4.3.5).
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Instructions: View this lecture. Note that this viewing will cover
the material you need to know for all subunits in section 4.4 (4.4.1
through 4.4.10)
This lecture is approximately 53 minutes long.
Terms of Use: Paul Bloom, Introduction to Psychology (Yale
University: Open Yale
Courses), [http://oyc.yale.edu](http://oyc.yale.edu/ "http://oyc.yale.edu") (Accessed
November 11, 2010). License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0. The
original version can be found
[here](http://oyc.yale.edu/psychology/psyc-110/lecture-3).

Instructions: Read each of the five modules listed. To access
additional modules, click on the left side. Note that this reading
will cover the material you need to know for all subunits in section
4.4 (4.4.1 through 4.4.10), as well as subunits 3.4.7 and 3.4.8.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Instructions: Click on the link above and then “Eric Full Text”
link at the top, left side of the page to access full text. Then
read this paper. Note that this reading will cover the material you
need to know for subunits 4.5.1 through 4.5.7

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

4.5.1 Chodorow’s Reproduction of Mothering4.5.2 Concept of the “Self” and the “Other”4.5.3 Girls Learn “Self” from Mother4.5.4 Show Communal Behavior and Mimic Mother4.5.5 Boys Learn “Self” From Differentiating Self from Mother4.5.6 Masculine is Defined as Not Feminine4.5.7 Seek to Act in Opposition to Mother